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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 7.2 VillagePrkwaySidewalk CITY CLERK File#. AIoI-J JJoI AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: March 16, 2004 SUBJECT: Village Parkway Sidewalk Widening and Lighting Improvements - Design Alternatives Report Prepared by: Melissa Morton, Public Works Director ATTACHMENTS: 1) Project Site Map 2) Sidewalk Alternatives 3) Lighting Detail 4) Project photos RECOMMENDATION: 1) Approve replacement of the sidewalk, and if approved, seleCt  a sidewalk alternative · 2) Approve recommended lighting proposal FINANCIAL STATEMENT: Capital Cost: All preliminary budget projections were based on the assumption that the City would receive a Housing Incentives Program Grant. The FY 2003-2004 budget for construction of the sidewalk and lighting improvements is as follows: Federal Housing Incentives Program Funds: $359,264 General Fund: $ 84,644 Total construction budget: $443,908 Preliminary construction cost estimates .are as follows: Sidewalk Widening/Reconstruction: $389,620 Street Lighting: $327,750 Project Total: $717,370 Additional funds required: $273,462 The City was awarded a grant by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) of $1.306 million of Housing Incentive Program (HIP) funds, which is subject to the construction of high density housing in the proposed Dublin Transit Center. It is required COPIES TO: g:hniscproj~Downtown Streetscape Imps~S VPW Sidewalk Alternatives 10~)~""- ITEM NO. ~ L that the high density housing project break ground by May 30, 2004, in order to receive these funds. Uncertain market conditions have impacted the timing of submittals by the three residential developers now active in the Dublin Transit Center project, and Staff will be requesting from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) a new deadline of August 2005 for the commencement of the Transit Center housing project. In addition, Staff will request an extension for construction of improvements to September 2005. Preliminary discussions with MTC staff indicate an unwillingness to extend the deadlines for the grant. The housing component of the funding deadline cannot be met so the City is not likely to receive the HIP grant unless an extension is granted. If MTC denies this extension request and/or the new deadline is missed, the construction of the above projects will have to be deferred or fimded from other sources, such as the City's Downtown/Open Space General Fund Reserve. The HIP funds are intended to be used for the Village Parkway sidewalk/lighting project, as well as the Gateway Monument at the northeast comer of Dublin Boulevard and Village Parkway and the Gateway Archway over St. Patrick Way. Based on the latest construction cost estimates, an additional $273,462 of federal funds would need to be allocated to the sidewalk/lighting project to make it fully funded. If the City receives federal funds, this will result in a shortfall in grant funding for the remaining Downtown Improvement projects. There are three alternatives for the sidewalk widening/reconstruction which are discussed below and all of their preliminary cost estimates are the same. Consequently, the choice of a sidewalk alternative is an aesthetic choice, not a budgetary one. Operating Cost: The lighting portion of the project will cost the City-Wide Lighting District the following annual costs over the existing baseline lighting provided on Village Parkway: 1. Power cost: $11,800 2. Maintenance cost: $ 5,330 3. Replacement cost: $ 5,800 Total: $22,930 This will result in a potential increase of individual property owner's street lighting assessment up to approximately $1.74 per household. For commercial properties the increase could be up to $1.74 x 5.5 x acreage of the property. Page2 ~~- DESCRIPTION: In November 1999, the City Council directed Staff to prepare three Specific Plans for various portions of the downtown area of Dublin in order to guide the development and revitalization of the West Dublin BART, Downtown Core and Village Parkway areas. The Specific Plans were adopted by the City Council on December 19, 2000. The Dublin Streetscape Implementation Plan described the area of Village Parkway between Dublin Boulevard and Amador Valley Boulevard as a "unique business enclave distinct from the downtown" due to its location on the east side of 1-680. The existing streetscape was described as "a missed opportunity for identity and a quality statement." As part of the implementation of the Specific Plan for Village Parkway, gateway monuments, sidewalk widening from 4.5 feet to 8 feet, and the installation of decorative streetlights were proposed to provide continuity and unifying elements in order to establish a positive image in the Downtown area. As part of the approval of the Capital Improvement Program and budget for Fiscal Year 2003-2004, the City Council directed Staff to complete the sidewalk improvements and new streetlights on Village Parkway between Dublin Boulevard and Amador Valley Boulevard. The design of the sidewalk widening and lighting for Village Parkway was begun by the City's consultant, Permco Engineering, under an existing on-call contract with the City. Public Outreach Every business property owner within the project limits were informed of the proposed construction by letter. In addition, photographs were provided (see Attachment 4) of each property owner's frontage showing the extent of the sidewalk widening and indicating which existing improvements (utility boxes, trees, etc.) would remain. The City was contacted by three of the property owners who expressed concern over existing improvements, primarily landscaping and irrigation. The property owners were assured that any irrigation lines affected by the work would be relocated and that, prior to commencing construction, the City would meet with each property owner to locate and mark the existing items requiring relocation. The property owners also expressed concern about being kept informed of the progress of the work and minimizing the impact on the business activities of the lessees. Staff assured the owners that notices will be provided as the construction schedule is finned up. In addition, the City will take steps to minimize the impacts on the businesses by limiting the work area to one side of one block at a time and constructing driveways at night in order to minimize impacts to vehicular access during the day. In addition to the property owners, the City's consultant met with the proprietors of virtually every business on Village Parkway to review the proposed work, along with the potential short-term impacts of the construction. The business owners were concerned about the construction impacts of the project on trade. Staff assured these business owners that the City would take every possible measure to minimize any inconveniences during construction. Sidewalk Widening The original intent of this portion of the work was to widen the existing sidewalk from 4.5 feet to 8 feet. This widening would locate the back of sidewalk at the street right-of-way line and would not require the acquisition of additional right-of-way. Page 3c~ ~'~ After much consideration, Staff is recommending that the existing sidewalk be removed in its entirety and a new 8-foot sidewalk be installed for the following reasons: 1) The existing sidewalk is generally in poor condition, with numerous cracks and areas of heaving due to the proximity of existing trees. 2) Widening the sidewalk by adding a small strip of concrete to the back of the old sidewalk will not be aesthetically pleasing and will not project the desired "DOwntown'' image. 3) The existing sidewalk runs through numerous sloped driveway approaches along the street. This is not considered an accessible path of travel under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The driveway approaches will have to be removed and reconstructed to provide a 4-foot-wide accessible path around each driveway. 4) Removal of the existing sidewalk would allow the installation of most street lighting conduits in the sidewalk area, rather than in the street, thereby reducing costs and traffic impacts on Village Parkway. The recommended replacement of the entire sidewalk offers the City the opportunity to construct a much more inviting streetscape. In addition, Staff has reviewed oPPortunities to incorporate green building practiCes. When incorporating fly ash into concrete, the set up times are longer, so concrete with recycled content could not be used for the driveways into businesses. However, for sidewalk areas that Will be limited to pedestrian traffic, Staff will incorporate the use of recycled materials into the specifications. If the City Council approves of this recommendation, Staff has prepared three alternatives for the City Council's consideration (please see Attachment #2.): Alternative I Plain concrete, broom finish, with 18" wide colored and scored bands. The scoring would match the recently completed Village Parkway/Lewis Avenue intersection improvement and the suggested color for all alternatives is Schofield "Coachella Sand". The color o£the newly paved bulb outs at the intersection of Village Parkway and Lewis Avenue is "San Diego buff' and it would be stained to match the suggested "Coachella Sand" color for consistency. Alternative 2 Scored concrete to match the Village Parkway/Lewis Avenue intersection scoring, with 18" wide colored bands with a salt finish. Also included is an 8" wide concrete band along the rear of sidewalk and around tree wells. Alternative 3 Plain concrete, either broom or salt finish, with 18" colored bands with stamped finish. Also included is an 8" wide concrete band along the rear of sidewalk and around tree wells. The stamped finish could either be: a) fishscale cobblestone pattern; b) random slate pattern; or c) diagonal slate tile pattern. Street Lighting The existing street lighting on Village Parkway is comprised of twin 100-watt, high pressure sodium cobraheads mounted on poles approximately .178 feet apart in the median island. This lighting, which is mainly for roadway illumination, provides only half of the desirable illumination in the sidewalk area, and pedestrians are faced with dark zones that are not inviting for walking after dark. Illumination studies were performed, both with and without the existing streetlights, using the Lumec luminaire previously chosen by the City Council in the'Dublin Streetscape Implementation Plan (Attachment 3). The studies Page 4 %~''-~ determined that in order to reach acceptable illumination and uniformity levels, the new luminaires would need to be spaced at 195 feet with the existing lighting and 142 feet without. While all of the above scenarios provide the required illumination levels and uniformity, the proposed spacing makes the lighting strictly utilitarian and does not provide the ambiance necessary to attract pedestrian traffic after dark. Therefore, in order to provide a pleasing streetscape, Staff recommends that the streetlights be spaced every 100 feet and the upper lanterns and pedestrian luminaries be lighted with 100-watt and 70- watt light bulbs respectively. The spacing of existing driveways along Village Parkway tends to lend itself to a spacing of approximately 100 feet which will require a total of 34 poles (as apposed to 24 in the 142-foot spacing). Staff further recommends that the existing cobrahead median lighting be removed as the proposed 100-foot spacing will significantly increase the illumination levels on both the roadway and sidewalk areas. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council: 1) approve replacement of the sidewalk, and if approved, select a sidewalk altemative; and 2) approve recommended lighting proposal. ,L~'I'IVA . [~ Z ~ ~ 0 Z ~ -~ z o ~ I ~0~ 0 0 ~ z z 0 0 x u.I ~ 0'~ o~ I z$ c) ,'71,, -~o8 .;.~ ~ ~ EXISTING BRADFORD EXISTING - CURB & GUTTER i: 8": 4" AB BASE DECOMPOSED GRANITE OF EXISTING SIDEWALK 4" THICK REINFORCED CONCRETE CONCRETE: BROOM FINISH, UNCOLORED EDGE WHERE OR PATTERENED BANDS WITH COLOR INDICATED TYPICAL CROSS SECTION @ TREE SCALE: 3/4" = 1 '-0" SIDEWALK RENOVATION - ALT. 1,2 & 3 VILLAGE PARKWAY CITY OF DUBLIN DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA ARBEGAST NEWTON & GRIFFITH - LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS 1647 HOPKINS STREET, BERKELEY, CA, 94707 "~0~;.' .~;~;.~';~, ~,~,, PRESENTATION Tek (45(3)430-7040 Fax: (450}430-1453 20'-11" Luminous Center ~- f-- FRONT VIEW SIDE VIEW -Dublin Village Parkway LMS